5 in police custody over Bastia violence

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April 24, 2017 5:56 PM

Four men were arrested early in the day and a fifth later turned himself in at the police station and was also placed in custody.

Bastia supporters invade the pitch to try to attack Lyon's Portuguese goalkeeper Anthony Lopes (in red) and others players during their warm-up prior to the French Ligue 1 match at the Armand Cesari stadium in Bastia, Corsica on April 16, 2017

Five people were taken into police custody in Bastia on Monday as part of an investigation into violence which marred the Corsican teams match against French Ligue 1 rivals Lyon, judicial sources said.

A hardcore section of home fans at Bastia's Armand Cesari stadium targeted Lyon's players as they warmed up before the game on April 16, causing it to be delayed by more than 50 minutes, and then abandoned as the two sides went in for the break.

Two Lyon players Anthony Lopes and Mathieu Gorgelin have filed police complaints after being attacked by Bastia fans during the game.

Bastia's next home game against Rennes on April 29 will be played at a neutral ground with no fans allowed.

Other disciplinary measures against the club who are already bottom of Ligue 1 and facing relegation could follow on May 4.

The violence followed crowd trouble several days earlier at Lyon as they hosted Turkish team Besiktas in the Europa League quarter-finals.

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